Month: April 2020

Real Estate Agents Get ‘Essential’ Status, But Still Move Cautiously With Aid Of Technology

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

Equitas Realty agents are relying on technology to connect with their clients.

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

Local real estate agents and brokers have been forced to change the way they do business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until this month, the work of real estate agents was considered non-essential, creating a severe hardship. This month, that was relaxed somewhat, but challenges still exist.

New York state opened up part of the real estate market on April 1 with a the ruling that residential and commercial showings and some other limited functions are essential businesses and can continue.

Sign Maker Whose Work Is In Adirondack Park To Make Signs For Yellowstone National

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim’s, made these signs for the Adirondack Park and does work for other North Country and local entities.
Courtesy Adirondack Jim’s

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

An area maker of custom wooden signs, whose work can be found in Warren County outdoor facilities and parks, recently secured a contract to make signs for Yellowstone National Park’s historic Lake Lodge.

Malta resident Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim’s, will make signs for the lodge, which was built in 1891 and is undergoing a $19 million makeover. According to Thomson, it was well-known Montana historical architect Ken Sievert who recommended he be chosen to make the interior and exterior signs for the lodge.

The signs will measure between 5-8 feet in length and will be framed in logs. Scott Phillips of Adirondack LogWorks in Schroon Lake will be making the frames.

SCORE Mentorship Program Provides Entrepreneurs With Hands-On Assistance

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, small business owners are facing unprecedented challenges, according to Bill Edwards, local coordinator of SCORE of Northeast New York. He said his team of volunteers is prepared to offer assistance to these business owners in whatever way possible.

SCORE is a network of volunteer expert business mentors. Founded in 1964, the nonprofit group has grown to include a nationwide network of more than 10,000 volunteers and approximately 300 chapters. It offers its services free of charge and receives it primary funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As a result, they only work with businesses that are considered small business based on SBA criteria.

Business Report: 5 Keys To Navigating Market Pullback

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

Meghan Murray is a financial advisor with
Edward Jones Financial in Queensbury. Courtesy Edward Jones Financial

BY MEGHAN MURRAY

As an investor, you constantly want to see your portfolio move just one way – up. But that’s not possible, because the financial markets will always fluctuate.

So, if you’re going to invest for many decades, you need to be prepared for many ups and downs. Still, the recent market pullback from record highs, caused largely by the coronavirus, may have you particularly concerned. How can you navigate this environment?

Here are five suggestions:

• Avoid the temptation to panic. This pullback, while unsettling and unprecedented because of its speed, won’t last forever. And when it ends, you’ll still want to be invested in the financial markets, because the biggest gains usually occur in the earliest stages of a market rally. Of course, there are no guarantees in the investment world, but we’ve seen many examples of this pullback/rebound pattern throughout history.

Business Briefs: April 2020

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. announce the promotions of John Marcantonio to vice president and Whitney Burger to assistant vice president.

Burger is responsible for maintaining, growing and servicing the company’s municipal relationships. She joined the bank in 2018 and will continue to work closely with branch staff and business partners to offer a variety of products and services to meet customer needs.

New Company Will Take Over Concessions At Track; Mazzone Hospitality Will Be Involved

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

The New York Racing Association selected Chicago restaurant and concessions giant Levy as the new food and beverage vendor for Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park.

The multi-year contract will bring several hospitality companies to the tracks, including Mazzone Hospitality of Clifton Park.

Levy is the concessions manager for the home stadiums of the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. The company also is the food and beverage vendor at several auto and thoroughbred racetracks including Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

“Few venues and events match the impact Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park have had on our sports culture,” said Andy Lansing, Levy president and chief executive.

COVID-19 Pandemic Leads Lake George Boat Commission To Delay Boat Inspections

April 16, 2020April 17, 2020

A Lake George Park Commission staffer washes a boat before it launches into the lake. This year, the boating inspection program has been delayed for a month.
Courtesy Lake George Park Commission

Due to concerns regarding the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic, the Lake George Park Commission is delaying implementation of its mandatory boat inspection program until June 1, as opposed to the traditional May 1 date.

Commission Chairman Bruce Young said the decision was made to protect the health and safety of the boating public and the commission’s boat inspection staff.

“The commission must balance the risk of new introductions of aquatic invasive species versus the health and safety of the public and our staff,” said Young. “An analysis of launch data from the past six years of the mandatory inspection program shows a lower risk for invasives introductions in the month of May compared with the summer months. Only 4 percent of annual decontaminations occur in May, and most boats are being launched for the first time of the season.”